When Kevin Smith was promoting Red State, he mentioned the fact that he was planning to retire from directing, but it seems less likely to happen soon with a number of new projects on his plate. In fact, he's getting ready to film a new horror movie, titled Tusk, next month:
"Financier and production company DEMAREST FILMS (Machete Kills, A Most Wanted Man) will underwrite and produce visionary director Kevin Smith's next film, the audacious and utterly terrifying Tusk.
Tusk, which commences principal photography in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Nov. 4, will star Justin Long (Live Free or Die Hard, A Case of You) and cult favorite Michael Parks (Red State, Django Unchained). Smith will direct his own script, which evolved from Episode 259 of his long-running podcast with Scott Mosier, the award-winning SModcast. Tusk's horror story follows a podcaster who sets out to interview an eccentric, reclusive old seafarer, only to find himself a plaything in the gruesome plot of a deranged killer.
Demarest's Sam Englebardt and William D. Johnson will produce Tusk alongside Shannon McIntosh, for Smith's SModcast Pictures banner. Demarest's David Greathouse and Jennifer Schwalbach are executive producers. SModCo's Jordan Monsanto and Chris Parkinson, the author of the hoax walrus ad, are associate producers.
Demarest CEO Sam Englebardt said of Tusk, "Demarest is a director-driven company, and Kevin has always been at the top of our list of filmmakers with whom we want to work."
Chairman William D. Johnson added, "We are hugely excited to see what results when Kevin applies his brilliant, twisted mind to classic horror filmmaking."
"I can't thank the good folks at Demarest enough for wading into weird waters with us," said Smith. "They are the walrus. Goo-goo-gajoob.""
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